Light signal device for a driverless transport system

Abstract

A light signal device for a driverless transport system, includes a front element having a plurality of optically transparent light exit openings and at least one light generating unit having a light guide and having two light sources arranged at opposite ends of the light guide. The light guide has a plurality of light decoupling elements in order to emit light through the light exit openings. Light exit openings are arranged on the front element in a plurality of rows and a separate light generating unit is provided for each of the rows. A light signal arrangement for a driverless transport system includes a plurality of such light signal devices. A driverless transport system includes the light signal device and a controller. Use of the light signal device is for visualizing an operating state of a driverless transport system. An operating method for the light signal device is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A light signal device for a driverless transport system, comprising:
 a front element having a plurality of optically transparent light exit openings, the front element being opaque apart from the light exit openings; and 
 at least one light generating unit having a light guide and having two light sources arranged at opposite ends of the light guide; 
 wherein the light guide has a plurality of light decoupling elements in order to emit light through the light exit openings; 
 wherein the light exit openings are arranged on the front element in a plurality of rows; and 
 wherein a separate light generating unit is provided for each of the rows; 
 wherein each of the rows has a plurality of light exit openings in a height direction, the light exit openings being arranged closer together within one of the rows than between two adjacent rows; and 
 wherein light is supplied to a plurality of light exit openings by a single light decoupling element of the light guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The light signal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light sources are in the form of LEDs. 
     
     
       3. The light signal device according to  claim 1 , wherein several of the light exit openings form a common light spot. 
     
     
       4. The light signal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light decoupling elements are designed and/or arranged for homogeneous light emission over the length of the light guide. 
     
     
       5. A light signal arrangement comprising a plurality of the light signal devices according to  claim 1  configured for a driverless transport system. 
     
     
       6. The light signal arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the light signal devices form a rectangular frame. 
     
     
       7. The light signal arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein two light signal devices are arranged in succession along one side of the frame. 
     
     
       8. The light signal arrangement according to  claim 5 , further comprising a display, in particular a matrix display, for displaying symbols and/or characters. 
     
     
       9. The driverless transport system comprising the light signal device according to  claim 1  or comprising the light signal arrangement according to  claim 5 , and comprising a controller for actuating the light signal device or the light signal arrangement depending on an operating state of the driverless transport system. 
     
     
       10. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the light signal device is oriented for a directed emission of light obliquely upward. 
     
     
       11. The driverless transport system to  claim 9 , wherein the light signal device is arranged adjacent to a load-bearing device of the driverless transport system and surrounds the load-bearing device. 
     
     
       12. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is set up to visualize a movement of the driverless transport system by means of the light signal device. 
     
     
       13. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is set up toprovide information regarding a load state of the driverless transport system by meaans of the light signal device. 
     
     
       14. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is set up to indicate an imminent collision of the driverless transport system with an obstacle by means of the light signal device arrangement. 
     
     
       15. Use of the light signal device according to  claim 1  or the light signal arrangement according to  claim 5 , for visualizing an operating state of the driverless transport system. 
     
     
       16. An operating method for the light signal device according to  claim 1 , wherein, simultaneously, a luminous flux emitted by one light source of the light generating unit is reduced and a luminous flux emitted by the other light source of the light generating unit is increased, so that a brightness maximum, migrating along the front element, of emitted light is generated. 
     
     
       17. The light signal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light sources are in the form of RGB LEDs. 
     
     
       18. The light signal arrangement according to  claim 5  configured for the driverless transport system, comprising a plurality, being at least four, of light signal devices. 
     
     
       19. The light signal arrangement according to  claim 5  configured for the driverless transport system, comprising a plurality, being at least eight, of light signal devices. 
     
     
       20. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the light signal device is oriented for a directed emission of light obliquely upward, wherein the front element and a plane of movement of the driverless transport system enclose an angle between  30  °and  75  °. 
     
     
       21. The driverless transport system according to  claim 9 , wherein the light signal device is oriented for a directed emission of light obliquely upward, wherein the front element and a plane of movement of the driverless transport system enclose an angle between  50  °and  70  °.